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PlacidTubs · Aug 24, 2005, 05:32 AM

I have a 12" 1.2Ghz iBook with only the stock amount of 256 RAM. I have unfortunately had this for a while, as I've not had the money to upgrade. Now I have, and am wondering whether to upgrade to 768 or 1.2Gb. What is the difference in speed? Is it as noticeable as the difference in price?

Also how much faster will the iBook actually be with this new RAM? Will it be up to double the speed, as it is fairly sluggish at the moment (especially as I often heavy programs such as Photoshop, Logic and Reason)?

ben.mcguire · Aug 24, 2005, 06:08 AM

Originally Posted by PlacidTubs

I have a 12" 1.2Ghz iBook with only the stock amount of 256 RAM. I have unfortunately had this for a while, as I've not had the money to upgrade. Now I have, and am wondering whether to upgrade to 768 or 1.2Gb. What is the difference in speed? Is it as noticeable as the difference in price?

Also how much faster will the iBook actually be with this new RAM? Will it be up to double the speed, as it is fairly sluggish at the moment (especially as I often heavy programs such as Photoshop, Logic and Reason)?

i had 256mb on my g4 1.2Ghz 12" , then i installed tiger. omg ran so slow. chucked in a 1GB stick and it runs like a dream now, have to say i only use safari,mail, word etc but i never close anything anymore and have zero slowdown. You can get 1GB for about £80 ish. well worth it

Randman · Aug 24, 2005, 06:24 AM

Running the apps you mentioned on 256 of ram is crazy.

ghporter · Aug 24, 2005, 07:07 AM

We added 512 to our 800MHz G4 iBook and it made a HUGE difference. (I can't remember whether it came with 128 or 256 at the moment, and I'm not using it right now.) If it were me, I'd get the largest upgrade I could afford-preferably the 1GB upgrade. Installing it is pretty simple too.

Eug Wanker · Aug 24, 2005, 07:37 AM

With your apps, I'd add another 1 GB.

You could get away with just another 512 MB if you're really short on cash.

cmeisenzahl · Aug 24, 2005, 12:20 PM

First, nice machine! I have the same one.

256 definitely far too little for almost anything.

512-768 is probably the sweet spot for most people. I dropped a 1GB stick into mine. It's a bit overkill for me, but since there's only one expansion slot, I maxed it out. Glad I did I think.

Get at least another 512mb and you should be fine.

Chris

axlepin · Aug 24, 2005, 12:21 PM

the days of 256 max RAM on a computer are O-VER. I have read OS X itself needs 512 to be happy. Now, you start throwing photoshop, DVD burning and host of other tasks at your computer and you are going be getting yourself some very sore buns waiting for that poor computer to do its work.

I had a sno ibook, 600mhz maxed to 640. Had a RAM chip go bad and worked on 128 while waiting for the replacement. that poor iBook could barely run, let alone fly. when the replacement RAM came, that iBook flew like a rocket and returned to the greatness I'd become accustomed to.

Skimping on RAM is a very foolish way to economize. RAM is cheap; spend the dough.

a

dgoldak · Aug 24, 2005, 12:47 PM

I'm getting a new iBook soon, comes with 512mb. Would 1.5GB be overkill or would 1GB be more than enough. I won't be doing much more than the average user, mainly Dreamweaver and light Photoshop stuff. Maybe light video editing.

jhogarty · Aug 24, 2005, 01:23 PM

If you can afford it, get the extra gig. You will notice a difference. I'm still on the fence with getting one of the iBooks. I keep adding it to my cart and then chickening out. Going to my local Apple Store this week to gets a hands on experience.

J.

wataru · Aug 24, 2005, 01:48 PM

I'd go for the 1GB stick. It's pretty cheap now, and you only get one shot at upgrading.

production_coordinator · Aug 24, 2005, 02:58 PM

The major appeal of adding RAM shines when you are opening larger files, have more applications open and are utilizing... more ram (obviously). Some things won't be much faster... some things will be night and day.

Eug Wanker · Aug 24, 2005, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by dgoldak

I'm getting a new iBook soon, comes with 512mb. Would 1.5GB be overkill or would 1GB be more than enough. I won't be doing much more than the average user, mainly Dreamweaver and light Photoshop stuff. Maybe light video editing.

Depends on what you do, but I find 1 GB is enough for most usage, especially if there is only one user (yourself).

For a lot of usage where 1.5 GB is preferred, a higher rez screen would be preferred too. ie. 15" PowerBook.

irockdabari · Aug 25, 2005, 12:43 PM

If you ever check out the activity meter (apps>utilities) and look at how much of your 256 is being used, you will find that most of it is being used even if your iBook is idle. Max out your RAM as much as possible. You will notice a HUGE difference from 256 MB of RAM. RAM IS GOOD! it is your friend